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Rural Aspirations Project

EIN 45-3854485 · Swanville, ME

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To expand educational opportunities that develop and honor community while stimulating the innate curiosity of students and teachers.

Income
$507,258
Spending
$468,296
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 52%
Employees
5
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$85,925, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $160,741 spent. Responsive professional development: Statewide services offering responsive professional development for rural teachers and administrators. Work with rural schools to provide professional development for teachers, administrators, and support staff based on the unique needs of the particular school or collection of schools within a region. Services range from cirriculum development with one teacher for one program to whole school re-design with community integration. In 2024, we served 21 schools, 28 administrators and 239 teachers and support staff, impacting 2,900 students.
  2. $105,707 spent. Collaborative programs: Maine forest collaborative - Education coordination for statewide programming and curriculum. To develop project based learning programs tied to rural community development needs. Services include development of the Maine forest collaborative, a program that served 6 schools, 6 teachers, and 79 students.
  3. $82,315 spent. WCYLC (Washington County Youth Leadership Program)- This hands-on, community-based civic engagement project brings together students and teachers from middle and high schools across Washington County to explore relevant civic issues facing their local communities. Community partners and municipal leaders will work with school teams as they research the challenge topic, gather feedback and input from other community members, and present possible solutions to decision makers. 8 schools, 9 teachers.
  4. $58,024 spent. Networks: RAP Networks develops and participates in statewide or regional networks to identity collaborative strategies to support rural schools. Services included participation on several statewide networks, including FOR/Maine, Maine West and the Washington County School Partnership Group. We facilitate the Northern Maine Outdoor Education Cohort with 8 teachers from 8 schools, with 50 teachers and 3 community partners.
  5. $7,016 spent. Maine Civics Network- Fiscal Sponsorship

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on June 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.